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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Bumble Bees (Bombini) » Bumble Bees (Bombus) » Subgenus Thoracobombus (Bombus Subgenus Thoracobombus) » Sonoran Bumble Bee (Bombus sonorus)
Photo#505563
largest-bee-I've-ever-seen on Encelia - Bombus sonorus - female
Copyright © 2011 Chris Mallory

largest-bee-I've-ever-seen on Encelia - Bombus sonorus - Female
Orange County, California, USA
April 12, 2011
Size: est 25mm? see remarks
About the size of a green fruit beetle or a valley carpenter bee (both of which are pretty common around here), this bee nearly dwarfs the Encelia flower its standing on. Many thanks in advance to anybody who can help me ID this bee.

Images of this individual: tag all
largest-bee-I've-ever-seen on Encelia - Bombus sonorus - female largest-bee-I've-ever-seen on Encelia - Bombus sonorus
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Contributed by Chris Mallory on 14 April, 2011 - 3:12pm
Last updated 14 April, 2011 - 7:20pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 14 April, 2011 - 4:37pm login or register to post comments

maybe
the Sonoran Bumblebee?


But there are lots of bumblebees that look alike, so definitely wait for an expert's opinion.
… Molly Jacobson, 14 April, 2011 - 4:26pm login or register to post comments

 
yes
a female
… John S. Ascher, 14 April, 2011 - 4:36pm login or register to post comments

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